Curtain-stretcher



C. E. TRACY.

CURTAIN STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 5. 1920.

. @y INVEN OR ATTORNEY C. E. TRACY. CURTAIN STRETCHER. APPLIcATIoN FILED Nov. 5. 1920.

1,388,078. PatentedAug. 16,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEY at Detrot stretching lace' curtains ACAROLINE n., TRACY, ornE'raorr, MICHIGAN. fr

y. r cunrArN-srnnroann. a

To all/whom it may concern: y Be it known that I, .CAROLINE E. TRACY, a citizen of the Dominion ofCanada, residing. 7 in the county of `Wayne and State of h/lichigan, have invented new and useful improvements in Curtain-.Stretchers, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to devices for and the like and has for its object-the provision of a yframe which is ordinarilyin knock down condition and which maybe quicklyv and easily set :up and y adjusted to hold curtains of any size' and which is also additionally adjustable where-A by to stretch lace bed spreads andv other similar articles which are. not-of the same relative proportions ask are window curtains.

An important object is theprovis'ion' of a i device of'this character in which theside and end'nembers ofthe frame are so connected that all the upperedges will be absolutely flush whereby curtainsengaged jupon pins projecting ab lve thejup'p'er edges of the sides and ends will vnot have any tendency to ull olf.y

nother object is the -provision of a device of this character inV which lordinary adjustment within reasonable limits may be made entirely without the manipulation of any bolts, screws, or the like, an important feature being that there is a total absence of any bolts or other securing members of a like nature at any of the corners.

Another object is the provision of a device of this character which carries its own legs which are normally' in folded position but which are extended when the use of the device is desired, thereby obviating the neV cessity for standing` the frame upon edge as is the common practice, or of laying the frame across the backs of chairs as is another make-shift arrangement.

An additional object is the provision of -a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, highly efficient in use, a great labor saver, durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my curtain stretcher in position set up ready for use,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation,

Specification of Letters'lPatent.

Y v.Applica'rpon led November le20.y serial No. 422,032.

Fig. 3 is an end view,

`Patented Aug. 16, 1.921,.

Ffg. 4L` 's a detail longitudinal sectional view through one of the sides, and Y Fig; 5 is a detail perspectiveview showino two meeting ends disconnected.

teferring more particularly to ythe drawings, I have shown my i twosides broadly indicated by the numeral 10, and vtwo ends designated broadly by the numeral 11. Each side 10 consistsof a bar 12 and a bar 13, yformedvpreferably of wood and of any desired length within reasonable limits. The bars 12'andv 13 are overlapped, as clearly shown, and are provided with elongated registeringslots 141 whereby theymay be adjusted, bolts-15 passing through these slots and-being provided with wingl or othennuts 16. yBy this construction it willbe seen that each side 10 is longitudinally extensible.` l

device as comprising The bar 13 isreduced in thickness ,throughout a lportion of its length, i

as: indicated at 17. The end of the bar 12 is :bifurcated to provide spaced arms 18 which Vbar 13 is likewise bifurcated to form arms 2O and each arm 2O 1s formed on its lower edge with a series of similar notches 21. Sccured upon the bars 12 and 13 and extending upwardly therefrom are the usual pins 22 upon which the curtain to be stretched, is engaged.

Each of the ends 11 comprises a bar formed at one end in its upper edge with a pair of notches 23 adapted to be engaged with either pair of the notches 19 of the side bar 12. The end 11 has its other end formed with a seriesl of notches 24 within any one of which may be engaged a pair of notches 21 in the bar 13. These mating notches have. their bottoms inclined, as shown, so as to form more eiiicient retaining means to prevent disengagement of the bars when` connected as above described. The ends 11 are likewise provided on their tops with the usual pins 25 upon which the curtain or other article to be stretched may be engaged.

Each end 11 is provided with a pair of hinged legs 26 and each side is also provided sition and the notched ends of the side and end bars are brought together and engaged, it of course being necessary that the proper notches be engaged required` size corresponding to the lace curtain, bed spread, or the like to be stretched. The article to be stretched is then-hooked onto the pins in the usual manner. In case it is necessary to stretch something of unusual length, it is apparent that by loosening the nutslG the barsl l2 and 13 may be eiXtende-chthe longitudinal slots 'permitting the necessary sliding movement.' Itis also apparent that the plurality of slots in the, series 2li on each end bar 1l provides for Wider variation. in the Width of the frame so that the device may be used for stretch ing lace bed spreads or the like which are wider than Window curtains.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I 4have thus yprovided a simply constructed and consequently'inexpensive curtain stretcher in Which lall 'the bars lie in the same plane or 'substantially so so that there `will be no unequality at Athe corners which might. resultin causing the" curtain to pull fromthe holding pins. The device is easily set up and the essential adjustments may be made lWithout theuse of any clampingbolts orscrews, a feature highly vadvantageous inasmuch as the presence of such bolts frequently causes rust spots upon the article being stretched.

' of course to be to make the frame lof the While I'havey shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood thatlI reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts as will not depart fromv the spirit of the invention or the -scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A curtain stretcher comprising a rectangu- 'lar frame including end bars, each formed in its upper edge at one end With a notch and at its 'other end With a plurality of notches, said frame including pairs of slidably connected side bars having their inner portions relatively thin and having their outer portions downwardly thickened, the thickened portion at one end of the slidably connected side bars being formed with an upwardly extending notch engageable Within a selected one of said second named notches, the thickened portion at the other end ofthe slidably connected pair of bars being formed With a series of upwardly extending notches, a selected one of Which may be engaged' Withinsaidirst named notch, legs hingedly connected With the end of the frame and legs pivotally connected with the intermediate portions of the side bars and a series of upwardly extending pins on the side bars and end bars.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

MRSQ CAROLINE EQ TRACY. 

